SERIE A MATCH REPORT

Third-place Fiorentina incredibly lost their unbeaten home record against struggling Pescara thanks to the heroics of MattiaPerin.

The Viola were flying high in joint third place and welcomed crisis club Pescara to the StadioFranchi. Home fans celebrated the arrival of Giuseppe Rossi from Villarreal, though he won’t be fit until mid-March and was in the stands cheering on his new teammates. Ruben Olivera and Gonzalo Rodriguez sat out bans, joining the injured Michele Camporese. The Delfini were without UrosCosic, ManueleBlasi and Juan Fernando Quintero.

After just 150 seconds Luca Toni was sent clear by Juan Cuadrado and MattiaPerin rushed off the line to charge down his shot.

Perin was again decisive with a great reaction save on a NenadTomovic header, then fingertipped a fierce Cuadrado strike over the bar.

Manuel Pasqual blasted over from a tight angle, as the Viola laid siege in the opening minutes. Perin was having a stunning afternoon in goal and a one-handed save denied a glancing Alberto Aquilani header was followed by plucking a deflected Aquilani free kick out of the air.

Perin was again called into action by a Borja Valero volley on the stroke of half-time. The saves paid off, as Pescara held on and took a shock lead.

Jonathas rose above the crowd for a glancing header in at the back post on a Vladimir Weiss cross from the left.

The Viola were stunned and Mervan Celik went close to a second, drilling just wide with his left foot.

Perin was back to his heroics on Mati Fernandez and David Pizarro went off after landing awkwardly.

Fiorentina threw everything at them, but Pescara held on and even doubled their lead on the counter-attack with Celik in stoppages.